Track lubricator



Patented Oct. 22, 1935 PATENT QFFIQE TRACK LUBRICATOR Albert G. Humphries, San Anselmo, and Allan F. Bonnalie, San Francisco, Calii'., assignors to Maintenance Equipment Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 1, 1931, Serial No.'541,224

9 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in track lubricators, and more particularly to an improved device for applying lubricant to the inner face of the rail-head and to the inner faces of the car wheel flanges which contact with said rail-head.

Briefly described, the invention comprises a vertically reciprocable plunger which is positioned adjacent the inner side of the rail-head so as to be depressed by a passing car wheel flange. A duct or lubricant passage is formed directly in the plunger, and cooperating means are provided whereby as the plunger is depressed, lubricant will be forced upwardly through this passage and ejected against the adjacent side face of the rail-head.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved track lubricator of the type briefly referred to hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specifications which follow.

Another object is to provide an improved track lubricator comprising a combined operating piston or plunger and oil distributing device.

Another object is to provide an improved track lubricating means mounted entirely adjacent the inner side of the rail.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of certain approved forms of devices embodying the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section through one form of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1, but showing the device applied to a 'difierent type of rail.

In Fig. 1 the invention is shown as appliedjto a girder rail of the type used in street railway systems, whereas in Fig. 2. the invention is applied to a standard railroad rail. Except for the difference in the contour or design of the casing to adapt the oiler for use with either of the two types of rails, the twoforms of the invention are identical and the same description will sufiice for both.

The casing I is provided with a side extension 2 adapted to fit between the rail-head 3 and one of the base flanges 4, and is secured against the rail in any suitable manner, as here shown by means of bolts 5 provided with nuts 6. If de-' sired or necessary, spacing plates could be used between the casing I and the rail. The casing l houses a reservoir 1 for the supply of suitable lubricant, and a pivoted closure 8 for the top of the reservoir gives access to the oiling mechanism and permits the supply of lubricant to be replenished.

An integral extension 9 at one side of the cas- 5:

ing projects inwardly into the reservoir space and houses a vertical guideway ii) in which is slidably positioned the plunger II. This guide- Way l0 and plunger I i may be cylindrical or of any other suitable cross section. The upper end i2 01' plunger H is adapted to project up alongside the inner face !3 of rail-head 3 in the path of the car wheel flange M (shown indotted lines in Fig. 1). When applied to the girder type of rail shown in Fig. 1, plunger ll projects upwardly through a passage I 5 in the rail flange IS. A compression spring I! housed within guideway Ill and bearing at its lower end against the bottom of this guideway and at its upper end against the lower face of plunger H acts to force the plunger upwardly, this upward movement being limited by the inner end it of a stop-screw 19 which projects into a slot 20 formed in one side of the plunger. The stop-screw i 9 is mounted, preferably in an inclined position, in an inward projection 2| of the casing. The plunger is shown in its uppermost position in Fig. 2, whereas in Fig. 1 it is shown as depressed against the resistance of spring I? by a car wheel flange 14.

A well or charge-pot 22 is formed in the bottom of reservoir 1 coaxially in line with the guideway l0 and plunger M. This well is closed at its lower end and in open communication at its upper end with the reservoir i. A reduced lower extension 23 of plunger H, 01' substantially the same diameter and cross section as well 22, projects downwardly through an opening in the lower end of the guideway so as to be forced into the wellor charge-pot 22 when the plunger is de pressed, as shown in Fig. 1. A lubricant conveying duct or passage 24 is formed. centrally through plunger H and extension 23, this duct opening out through the lower end of the extension and having an inwardly diverted upper end portion, 25 which opens through the inner edge of the plunger adjacent the rail face I3.

In operation, the plunger will normally be raised by spring ill to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the lower end of extension 23 will be lifted out of well 22 so that lubricant (preferably oil) is free to flow into and fill this well from the reservoir l. When a car wheel passes along the rail, the flange M will depress plunger it so as to force the extension 23 downwardly quick successive impulses to the plunger l2 even though the train is moving atarelativeljisslow operating speed. These successive impulses build up the column of oil in the duct 24 and eject the upper portion of the column against the inner side face of the rail head. This-lubricant willbe wiped away by the wheel flanges l4 and distributed around the inner face of the flangeand alonggthe-inner'side of the rail-head. If desired, the; outlet 25 couldbesodirected as to eject the I lubricant-whollyor-in:part againstthe inner face of wheel flange l4.

A suitable. air passage 26 maybe provided communicating with guideway Hl'beneaththe. plunger to equalizev the air. pressure in this space and facilitate the reciprocation. of the plunger.

It, will :be apparent that this, lubricating unit isverysimple and. entirely self-contained, and is mounted entirely at one side of the rail so that no operating. members or oilpassages. projecting aroundor through. the rail arerequired;

.WelclaimL 11 Ina-track rail .liibric'ator, a plunger mounted onthe rail at one side thereof in-position tobe depressed byapassingcar wheel, there being an unobstructed duct formed in said plunger having its. upper end positioned to direct lubricant toward the .side of therail-head engaged bya car wheel flange, and means for holding ,a supply oflubricant intowhich. the lower end. of the plunger. is

forced whereby lubricant from said supply means is forced, upwardly throughthe duct and projected forcibly against the. railhead during. the downwardmovement of said plungeL.

. 25111 a trackrail lubricator, a casing secured to the. rail .at the side thereof, a.plunger guided in said casing for substantially vertical movement, the upper end of the plunger being normallyposis tioned in the .path of a car'wheel flange so.as to.be thrust downwardly ,thereby, a spring for returning theplunger' to its.elevated position, a stop ,7 for limiting the upward movement of theplunger, and a well .for lubricantinto which thelower portion ofthe plunger isthrust, there being anunobstructeel-duct formed in the plunger which opens at its lowerend into the well and is positionedv at its upper end .to discharge lubricant forcibly against the rail-head.

3. In a track. rail lubricator, a casing adapted to be positioned at the side of the rail, a plunger guided in said.casing for substantially vertical movement, the upper .end of the plunger being normallypositioned in the path of a. car wheel flange so as to be depressed thereby, a spring for returning "the plunger .to its..elevated position, there being an. opening formed .in one side of the plunger, a,stop screw mounted in the casing and havingitsvinner. end projecting loosely into the openin'gto limit the upward movement of the plunger, and a well forlubricant into which the lower vportionof the plunger is depressed, there bein'gga. duct. formed in the plunger which opens atits lower. end into the well and ispositioned at The wheels of a railway car truck, being relatively close together,.impart its upper end to discharge lubricant against the rail head.

4. In a track rail lubricator, a casing adapted to be mounted against one side of the rail and housing a reservoir for lubricant, there being a well formed in the casing, closed at its lower end and in opencommunication with the reservoir at its upper end, a plungerguided for vertical reciprocation'in thecasing so'that its upper end will normally project into the path of the flange of a passing car wheel, the lower end of the plunger being. forced into the well when the plunger is depressed by the car wheel flange, means for elevatingthe'plungena stop for limiting the upward movement of the plunger, there being a duct formed in the plunger, opening at its lower end into the well'when-the plunger is depressed, and openingat its uppenend so as to direct lubricant against the side of the rail-head.

5. Ina-track rail lubricator, a casing adapted 20 to .bermounted. against one side of the rail 1 and housinga reservoir-for lubricant, there beinga well formedinthecasing, closed at its lower end and in .open communication withthe reservoir at its -.upper..end-, a vertical guideway formed in'the g5 casing, a plunger reciprocable in. the .guideway, a springmountedinthe lower portion of the guideway .fornormally ,elevating theplunger so that its upperendwill be in the path of apassing car wheel flange, ast-op for. limiting the upward movement of the plunger, the. plunger having a lower extension of reducedldiameter adapted .to be forced downwardly into the well when..the plungeris depressed, there being aduct. formed-in the plunger and openingat its lower end through 3.5- V the lower end of the reduced extension, and open-. ing at its upper end through the sideof the plunger adjacent the rail-head.

6. In a track raillubricator, a casing adapted to .be mountedagainstone side. of .the rail and a housing a reservoir for lubricant, there being a well formed in .the casing,,closed at. its lower end and in .open communication with the reservoir at its upper. end, .a vertical guideway formed in the casing, a plunger reciprocable. inthe guideway,

a spring mounted in the lower portionof. the guideway for normally elevating theplunger so that its upper end will be in the path of a passing car wheel flange, .there' being a slot formed in one side of the. plunger, astop screw mounted in the 5 wall'of the guideway and having its. innerend projecting into the slot, the plunger having a lower extension of reduced diameter adapted tobe forced downwardly into the well when the plunger is depressed; there being a duct formed in'the plunger and opening at. its lower end.through the lower end of the reduced extensionand opening at its upper end through the side of the plunger adjacent the rail-head.

'7. In a track raillubricator, acasing adapted to be mounted against one side of the rail and housing a reservoir. forlubricant, there being a..well formed in the casing,,c1osed at its lower end and in opencommunication with the reservoir at its upper end, avertical guideway formed in the cas- 651 ing, a plunger reciprocable in the guideway, a spring mounted in the lower portion .of the guide way for normallyelevating the plunger so that its upper end will be in the path of a passing. car wheel flange, a stop for limiting the upward move- 7 0;; ment of the plunger, the plunger having a lower extensionof substantially the same cross-section as the well and adapted to be forced downwardly into the well when the plunger is depressed, there being a duct formed .in the plunger and opening 4 at its lower end through the lower end of the plunger extension and opening at its upper end through the side of the plunger adjacent the railhead.

8. In a track lubricator, a plunger mounted on the rail at one side thereof in a position to be depressed by the flanges of passing car wheels and formed with a lubricant duct terminating at its upper end near the head of the rail, and means for holding a supply of lubricant into which the lower end of the plunger is forced when depressed by the wheel flange whereby the lubricant is forced upwardly through said duct and is ejected therefrom as a jet into the space between the wheel flange and rail head against the inner surface of the rail head adjacent said wheel flange.

9. In a track lubricator, a plunger mounted on the rail at one side thereof in a position to be depressed by the flanges of passing car wheels and formed with a lubricant duct terminating at its upper end near the head of the rail, and means for holding a supply of lubricant into which the lower end of the plunger is forced when depressed by the wheel flange whereby the lubricant is forced upwardly through said duct and is ejected there- 10 

